HCMC – A helicopter with five people on board crashed today, April 5, in the waters between Halong Bay of Quang Ninh Province and Lan Ha Bay of neighboring Haiphong City, reported the local media.

Piloted by Colonel Chu Quang Minh, the Bell 505 helicopter was carrying four Vietnamese tourists who wanted to see Halong Bay from the sky. The flight took off at 4:56 p.m. and lost contact at around 5:15 p.m.

Local authorities are conducting a search and rescue operation.

The bodies of two people have been recovered, according to Tien Phong online newspaper.

The helicopter is operated by Northern Vietnam Helicopters, a unit of Vietnam Helicopter Corporation.